The son of Michael Charles Challis (1865–1928),[1][2] and Margaret Challis (1868–1943), née McGregor,[3][4] George David Challis was born at Cleveland in the Northern Midlands of Tasmania on 9 February 1891.
Challis was a Tasmanian and started his career at Launceston, where he was a premiership player in 1909 and regular NTFA representative at the State Championships. He also represented Tasmania at the 1911 Adelaide Carnival, participating in their famous win over Western Australia. During this time he played mainly as a half forward or rover but when he was lured to Carlton in 1912 he soon established himself as a wingman. It was in that position that he starred in Carlton's 1915 premiership team.
He almost missed out on the chance to win a premiership as he had attempted to join the army at the beginning of the season, only to be refused because his toes overlapped.
A teacher by profession, and a committed Esperantist,[6] he was eventually signed up and served with the 58th Infantry Battalion on the Western Front.
Death
Challis, by then a Sergeant, was killed in action, on 15 July 1916,[7] when a heavy-calibre German artillery shell dropped into his trench in Armentières, France.[8]
Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
Main, J. & Allen, D., "Challis, George", pp. 33–36 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002. ISBN1-74095-010-0
